World premiere to be hosted in plague village

A world premiere will be hosted by a village which is marking the 350th anniversary of the outbreak of the plague in its community.

A staged reading of Here We Stay at Eyam Parish Church on July 18 at 7.30pm will share the story of the plague’s devastation as well as the efforts of Rector William Mompesson to quarantine the village.

The work, by David Rudkin, tells the story in the voice of the plague herself. Charlotte Cornwell takes the central role of Pestis, reunited with Rudkin for the first time after performing a central role in his 1976 play Sons of Light.

Haunting music will be provided by violinist Angharad Davies.

The production, the first of a series of Place Prints by Rudkin to be presented by New Perspectives, follows the company’s critically acclaimedproduction of Rudkin’s The Lovesong of Alfred J Hitchcock,